Circular knitting machine of the axially opposed needle cylinder type



Nov. 24, 1942. H. H. HOLMES CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 24, 1942 I I. C

Nov. 2.4, 1942. H. H. HOLMES 2,302,946

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 24, 1942. H H, HQLMES A2,302,946

CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE OF THE XIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed March v24, 1942 3 sheets-sheet 3 F/GS. 55 H5655@ A Patented Nov. 24, 1942 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE F THE AXIALLY OPPUSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Henry Harold Holmes, Leicester, England, assignor to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester,

England Application March 24, 1942, Serial No- In Great Britain April 11, 1941 19 Claims.

This invention relates to circular knitting machines of the double axially opposed needle cylinder type, and concerns machines of this type which are furnished with lap or wrap striping mechanism for the purpose of producing embroidery plating in which a design thread or threads is or are knitted on the face of fabric knitted from a ground yarn or yarns, such a machine being hereinafter referred to as a machine of the kind described.

The invention is intended for application mainly to machines of the characteristic type aforesaid wherein there is a circular series of elements for supplying lap or wrap striping threads to desired needles but is not to be regarded as limited in this respect as it may be applied to machines having but one thread supplying element, or two such supplying elements diametrically opposite to each other, as for example in a seamless hosiery machine for producing clocking and like effects.

Moreover, it is mainly the intention to carry the invention into practical effect in machines of the kind described having superimposed needle cylinders with double-ended needles operable by means of sliders as now well known to those acquainted with the art concerned.

It has previously been proposed to provide a machine of the kind referred to, wherein the or each thread supplying element in addition to being capable of deflection or equivalent movement laterally, i. e. transversely to the needles, is also adapted for movement radially or substantially so with respect to the needle circle for the purpose of carrying its thread across the latter, e. g. from the inside to the outside and vice versa, and means are provided for effecting deflection or equivalent movement of the thread supplying element or each or any one of such elements, as the case may be, to the extent of two or more needles. In a machine of this previously proposed form, the thread supplied by an element is lapped or wrapped on or about desired needles by reason of the radial or substantially radial movement of said element conjointly with the lateral deflection or equivalent movement thereof. To achieve the desired result, the or each thread supplying element therefore has a lapping or wrapping action to the extent of two or more needles.

Heretofore it has been found, especially in ne gauge machines, that there is sometimes a tendency for a thread supplying element to be come displaced radially during lateral movement thereof so that it collides with or at least creates Cil a danger of it colliding with needles on or about which a design thread is to be lapped or wrapped. In the previously proposed machine there is also a tendency for the said element when being advanced and retracted radially across the needle circle to foul needles adjacent to the needles or the group of needles to be lapped or wrapped.

The present invention therefore has for its object to provide a simple and efficient expedient designed to obviate the difficulties concerned.

The invention comprises means so formed and arranged in association and for co-operation with a thread supplying element during defiection or equivalent lateral movement thereof as to be adapted to maintain said element in an advanced position clear of appropriate needles, i. e. the needles on or about which a design thread is to be lapped or wrapped by the element.

The idea is that during deflection or equivathread supplying elesaid element during the time it is being moved laterally.

Additionally, the said means may function during completion of Figure 2 is a vertical sectional viewof so much of the upper portion of said machine as concerns the invention,

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic detail plan view including a layout of a few needles of the machine, associated thread supplying elements, means according to the invention for guarding and guiding the elements and a deflector for moving said elements laterally all as will be hereinafter described,

Figure 4 is a part sectional plan ing a needle selecting arrangement,

Figure 5 is a side elevational View, partly in section, showing mechanism whereby the thread supplying elements can be shogged bodily in a circumferential direction, for a purpose hereinafter to be explained,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view showing the lower portion of one of the thread supplying elements with its thread lapped or wrapped around a needle,

Figure '1 shows how needles of a group are selected to take the thread supplied by one of the elements, and

-Figures 8-11 are detail plan views illustrating in purely diagrammatic fashion respectively different stages of a thread lapping or wrapping view illustratcharacters throughout the drawings.

The machine plain or bottom and rib or top cylinders I and 2 respectively equipped with double-ended needles 3 and associated `needle-operating sliders. The sliders in the plain or bottom cylinder are indicated at 4 (see Figure 1), but those customarily provided in the rib or top cylinder have been omitted for convenience in illustration. The bottom cam box is represented at 5 and the top cam box at 6.

The machine is furnished with thread lapping or wrapping mechanism including a circular series of thread supplying elements A. Each of the latter comprises a main non-flexible blade-like stem portion 8 the lower end 8a of which extends at an angle, e. g. at right angles, to the remainder thereof to provide a stop or thread supplying pivotally or hingedly mounted upon stem portion and normally spring pressed against the stop or abutment 8a suchwise as to be capable of lateral deflection against the spring action as occasion demands. The blade-like stem portion 8 therefore constitutes a carrier for the pivoted or hinged wrap feeder 1. Each feeder is also of a blade-like character formed at its outer end with a downwardly directed extension 1a having therein a pair of eyes I1 (Figure 6) for reception of a lap or wrap striping thread t. In Figure 6, the thread t has been wrapped around a selected needle 3 and over is indicated a elements A are mounted in a cylindrical bed or like carrier such as 9 so as to extend in an axial direction or substantially so with respect to the needle cylinders, for movement radially across the needle circle from the inside to the outside and vice versa. A deflector I in the form of a cam or an abutment is so formed and arranged adjacent to the wrap feeders 1 that when the elements A are projected radially from their normal position said feeders are engaged by the de; flector and deflected laterally to the extent of two or more needles. The deiiector l0 is common to all of the elements A and lateral deflecincludes rotary is adapted to pivot or rock 'diagrammatic tion or swivelling movement of selected feeders 1 is engendered by the rotational movement of theseries of elements andthe deflector one in relation to the other. Thus, since the machine being described is a revolving cylinder machine, lateral deflection or swivelling movement of the wrap feeders 1 is engendered by the rotational movement of the elements A in company with the needles 3, in relation to the deflector I0. A

Concerning the actual form and construction of the thread supplying elements A, each of these about a fulcrum point II and, as shown in Figure 2, has on its flat, main axially extending portion 8 a frontal (pressure) butt I2, a main butt I3 vand an upwardly extending butt I4. At its inner end the feeder portion 1 of the element is, cut away at 1b and formed with spaced axially aligned bushes 1c adapted to fit and turn upon a vertically disposed pivot pin I5 carried by the stop or abutment 8a. The pivotal wrap feeder 1 is normally pressed against the said stop or abutment (which latter is relatively inflexible) by means of a torsion spring I6. This spring is arranged to surround the pin I5 with one end thereof bearing upon the stop or abutment 8a and its opposite end upon the feeder ,1, as shown more clearly in Figure 6. The stop or abutment fits between the spaced bushes 1c and is itself also cut away or recessed at 8b to accommodate the spring IB. It is to be clearly understood that in each of Figures 3 and 8-11 the elements A are shown in purely fashion-the springs I6 being omitted for simplicity in illustration.

It has previously been mentioned that the ele-A ments A are projected radially to enable them to be engaged by the deiiector I0. The projection of the elementsfor this purp'ose is in an outward direction across the needle circle from the inside to the outside. In this connection, selector levers or cams I9 (Figure 2) are provided for action selectively upon the pressure butts I2, so that selected elements are pressed inwards at their upper ends and thereby projected radially at their lower ends. The machine is also furnished with a retracting cam 20 arranged for action upon the upwardly extending butts Il seriatim for the purpose of restoring selected thread supplying elements to their normal position. The arrangement is such that after a selected element A has been projected radially outwards into the path of the deilector III, and while the'corresponding pivotal wrap feeder 1 is still deflected, the said element is caused to revert to its normal position, i. e. it is moved radially inwards back across the needle circlcL-this time from the outside to the inside-thus being brought out of contact with the deector III so that the wrap feeder springs back to its original lateral position in relation to the needles served by the element, all as will be hereinafter explained in greater detail.

Means are also provided for effecting appropriate relative lengthwise movement of the needles 3 and elements A so that by reason of such movement and the conjoint lateral deflection of the wrap feeders 1 the threads t may be lapped or wrapped about desired needles. In the specific example illustrated the needles 3 are moved lengthwise, and such movement is taken advantage of to move them selectively so that in any group of two or more needles served by a thread supplying element A, one or any one or more of the group may be caused to knit the thread supplied by the element while the other or others do not. This last mentioned result may conveniently be achieved by normally malntaining the needles at a common position, e. g. level, in which they are too far from the thread supplying element to receive the thread t so that when the said element is operative the thread will miss the needles, and advancing the desired needle or needles to a favourable position to receive the thread. This will be clear from a consideration of Figure 7 which depicts a group B of six needles served by a single thread supplying element. Normally the needles are maintained at the common level C at which they are too far from the relevant wrap feeder to receive the thread t (see the two needles indicated at 3) whereas the selected needles 31 are shown advanced to receive said thread. The selection of the needles in this way may be elected by means of a needle selecting arrangement or pattern controlled variable needle selecting means of any suitable type. Thus, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the said means may comprise a bank of cams 2| controlled by a pin drum 22 (see Figure 4) having therein removable pins 23 which act upon intermediate levers 24 pivoted individually on a spindle 25., The levers 24 engage the cams 2| to render same operative or inoperative. In Figure l, the top-most cam 2| is operative, the other cams beneath it being inoperative. The pin drum 22 may be racked round by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism (not shown). The cams 2| are,slidable radially with respect to the plain or bottom needle cylinder in a bracket 26 mounted on the machine bed. The said cams act selectively upon patterning butts 4a (Figure l) of the sliders 4, there being as many butt positions as there are cams but not in every case a full complement of butts on each slider, butts being broken 01T the sliders according to pattern requirements. The bank of selecting cams 2| is located adjacent to a knitting cam system of conventional form in the bottom cam box 5. When any one of the cams is rendered operative by being advanced towards the needle cylinder by a lever 24 acted upon by a pin 23 in the drum 22, a slider or sliders having a corresponding butt or butts is raised by reason of the cams being obliquely disposed, and the corresponding needle or needles is or are advanced somewhat. The remaining sliders are not affected and consequently their needles remain at the level C aforesaid. The slider 4 shown in Figure 1 is, of course, a selected one, the corresponding needle being advanced to receive thread from the element A.

In the particular example illustrated, each of the thread supplying elements A is deflected or laterally moved to the extent of two or more plain needles for the purpose of producing solid panels, vertical stripes, or blocks of embroidery plating of two or more wales in width or, when only selected needles knit the embroidery threads, continuous or interrupted vertical stripes or like effects of lesser width in or within the plain knitted panels formed by the plain needles within the range of the lateral deection or movement of the respective thread supplying elements. For this purpose the invention is applied to machines of the kind referred to wherein the thread lapping or Wrapping mechanism is mounted or arranged so that the wrap feeders of the elements are normally retracted within the needle circle and are initially swung outwards so that when deilected or moved laterally the threads t are laid across the front of the respective groups of plain needles and thus, when knitted, appear as embroidery stitches on the front of the fabric in or Within the plain knitted panels produced by .such

needles. This will be clearer from a consideration of Figure 3 which shows, by way of example, one particular layout of needles. As will be seen, groups D of' three rib needles are arranged to alternate with groups B each consisting of six plain needles, and each active thread supplying element A serves one of the groups B. .There may, however, elements A of the form herein described for each group B of needles and either or any one of these elements may be caused to serve that group. In this way, respectively different threads can -be supplied interchangeably to the said group (or to a desired needle or needles thereof) in order to vary the pattern effect. Thus in Figure 3 it will be seen, byway of example, that there are two thread supplying elements A for each group B of plain needles, i. e. an active element at E and an inactive or idle element at F. The active and inactive elements therefore alternate throughout the circular series. By shogging lthe cylindrical carrier 9 containing the elements A to an appropriate circumferential extent, however, active elements can be rendered inactive and replaced by the previously inactive elements thereby changing the threads supplied to the various needle groups B. As will readily be understood, only such of the elements as are active at any particular time are subject to selective operation. It is in this connection that two selector levers or cams I9 are provided for action selectively upon the appropriately distributed pressure butts |2.

The deector I0 may occupy a xed position radially with respect to the elements A so that Wherever an element is rendered operative, the wrap feeder portion 1 thereof is deflected as a matter of course. Alternatively, and as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the said deector may be arranged for movement to and from an operative position in relation to the thread supplying elements under the control of timing or pattern mechanism (not shown) of any conventional character so that it may be caused to operate on one or more of the elements and not on another or others, whereby any of the guides thus missed laps or wraps its thread about one needle, only, instead of each being deflected to the extent of two or more needles. The deflector I0 in the particular example illustrated is adapted for sliding movement radially within a bracket 30 attached to the top of the cam box 5 and is controlled by a tension spring 3|. One end of this spring is anchored to the bracket 30 While the opposite end thereof is anchored to a pin 32 carried by the delector HJ. The operative, i, e. innermost, position of the deflector is determined by a screw abutment 33 which is carried by the enlarged outer end |0a of said deector and adapted at its leading end to make contact with an appropriate part of the bracket 30. By suitable adjustment of the screw abutment 33 the innermost position of the deectorcan be varied within limits. A lever 34 adapted to be controlled by or from the main controlling or timing be two or more thread supplyingunder said action. In any event. the deector may be in the form of a cam having an operative edge or face appropriately shaped and positioned in the manner shown with respect togthe path followed by the wrap feeder 1 of any element-,A moved radially in advance oflthe group B of needles to be served, so as to hold the engaged wrap feeder deflected for the appropriate length of time.

The cylindrical carrier 9 for the elements A is rotatably mounted upon a sleeve 35 depending from the top plate 35 of the machine (see Figure The lapor wrap striping, i. e. embroidery, threads may be guided from bobbins, cones, spools', or reels mounted upon a rotary bracket through tubes 31 appropriately clustered within the sleeve 35. The customary gear ring 38 on the rib or top cylinder 2 is furnished with grooved securing segments 39. A gear ring 40 is arranged normally to drive the cylindrical carrier 9 at the same speed as the rib or top cylinder 2.

The means for shogging 9 for the purpose hereinbefore alluded to are shown in Figure and comprise a pinion 4| freely mounted upon the top cylinder driving shaft 42. The pinion 4| is driven by a reel 43 slidably keyed on the shaft 42 and having opposed cams 44 and 45 radially offset and engaged by rollers 46 and 41 on a pattern controlled slidable block 48. The reel 43 also has a projection 49 with edges 49a of the disposition shown to engage opposed screws 50 arranged on the underside of the pinion 4l. The screws 50 are carried by slidable bars 5l adjustable so that the amount of shogging can be adjusted within fairly fine limits. A gear 52 which is rotatable with the shaft 42 meshes with the teeth on the gear ring 38 and the pinion 4I meshes with the teeth on the gear ring 40. With this arrangement, therefore, the cylindrical carrier 9 can either be driven from and at the same speed as the rib or top cylinder 2 (as it would normally be), or it can be shogged in either direction to the extent required by appropriate axial movement of the reel 43 upon the shaft 42.

It is convenient here to mention that the structure serving to support the aforesaid bobbins, spools, cones or the like is mounted upon a rotary toothed part 53 which is adapted to mesh with and thereby be driven turn driven by the shaft 42.

by a gear wheel 54 in In accordance with the distinguishing feature l of this invention a small guide and guard cam 55 is provided adjacent to each pivoted or hinged wrap feeder 1 for action upon a butt 1d formed integrally therewith. The butt projects downwardly from the lower edge of the pivoted or hinged feeder 1 and is located between the corresponding downwardly directed extension 1a and the fulcrum about which the said feeder pivots or swivels. Each guide and guard cam 55 projects upwards from a cam carrier ring 58 secured to the top face of a verge ring 51 furnished with knocking-over bits 51a (Figure l). As shown in Figure 3, the ring 56 upon which the guide and guard cams 55 are provided is screwed to the top of the verge ring and slotted or equivalently formed as at 58 to enable it to be adjusted circumferentially for the purpose of enabling the cams 55 to be accurately set in relation to the active thread supplying elements. The front face 55a of each cam 55 is curved in a circumferential direction and the cam has two opposed flat or mainly flat side faces 55h and 55o. The

two side faces are angularly disposed with respect 'I5 .to each other and meet in a corner at the rear of the curved front face 55a. In its fully retracted position the butt 1d on each wrap feeder 1 at a location E lies immediately behind the associated guide and guard cam 55.

The various stages of a lapping or wrapping operation will now be described with reference to Figures 8-11. Assume that the thread supplying elements A and the needles 3 `shown in each of these four figures are moving rection of the arrow G in relation to the stationary defleotor I0. Of the needles represented it will be assumed that selected plain needles of the group B are to be lapped or wrapped by the thread t. At the stage shown in Figure 8 the selected needles have already been raised to a favourable position to receive the thread, and the active element A at the location E, although still in its normal condition with its wrap feeder 1 pressed against the stop or abutment 8a, has been selected for projection radially outwards in the direction of the arrow H. At this stage. moreover, the butt 1d on the said feeder lies behind the associated guide and guard cam 55, and the inactive or idle element A at the adjacent location F is quiescent.

Projection of the selected wrap feeder 1 carries its threat t across the needle circle from the inside to the outside thereof, the thread passing between the plain needle at one end of the group B and the adjacent needle of the rib group D. The position occupied by the fully projected wrap feeder is shown in Figure 9, wherein it will be noted that the feeder is approaching the deilector i0. During projection of the feeder 1 in this way the butt 1d thereon is rst directed into contact with the adjacent obliquely disposed side face 55h of the associated guide and guard cam 55, whereupon it is positively guided until the downwardly directed outer end 1a of the feeder is clear of the needles on the outside of the needle circle. At this stage the inactive element at the location F remains quiescent with its thread t1 relatively stationary.

Consequent upon further rotational movement of the thread supplying elements A in company with the needles in relation to the stationary deflector I0, the selected wrap feeder 1-in passing said defleotor-makes contact therewith and is thereby deflected laterally against the action of its spring I6 to the extent of the six plain needles so that a portion of the thread t is caused to extend across the fronts of the stems of the selected ones of said needles just below the hooks thereof as represented in Figure 1. In Figure 10 the feeder 1 is shown in the course of being laterally deflected during which time the butt 1d travels across the curved front face 55a of the guide and guard cam 55 in contact therewith, thereby effectually guarding against the possibility of any premature retraction of the thread supplying element A due, for instance, to the backward pull exercised by the thread t then in the course of being lapped or wrapped around desired needles.

Towards the end of its pivotal or swinging movement, the selected wrap feeder 1 comes into contact with the outer end of the wrap feeder of the adjacent inactive thread supplying element with the result that this previously quiescent wrap feeder is also deflected somewhat-but only in an idle manner. This movement, however, is not detrimental since both of the threads t and t1 are clear of the contacting parts.

While the selected wrap feeder 1 is still dein the difiected the element A by which it is carried is moved back radially across the needle circle in the direction indicated by the arrow I in Figure 11. Upon the said feeder leaving the` defiector cam l 0 it tends to spring back to its original position but its butt 1d is brought into contact with the opposite side face 55e of the cam 55 and travels along this face during retraction of the feeder. In this way the pivoted feeder is positively guided to ensure that its downwardlydirected outer end 'la is withdrawn between the plain needle at the end of thev group B remote from that previously mentioned and the adjacent rib needle without colliding with the needles. During this time the partially deflected inactive feeder springs back harmlessly toits original position in contact with the associated stop or abutment 8a and the same thing happens to the active feeder immediately its butt 1d moves to a position behind and free of the guide and guard cam 55, thereby completing the lapping or wrapping operation.

If now, the elements A are shogged to an appropriate extent in relation to the needles 3, the wrap feeder 1 supplying the thread t1 will assume the same active position with respect to the guide and guard cam 55 as that previously occupied by the feeder supplying the thread t. Accordingly, at a subsequent lapping or wrapping operation the thread t1, instead of the thread t, will be lapped or Wrapped around desired plain needles.

What I claim then is:

1. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including at least one element for supplying a design thread to associated needles, said element being capable of movement transversely with respect to said needles, means for moving said element radially and also for eiecting transverse movement of the element to the extent of at least two needles, and means for preventing radial movement of the element during such transverse movement for the purpose herein specified.

2. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including at least one element for supplying a design thread to associated needles, said element being capable of movement transversely with respect to said needles, means for moving said element voutwardly with respect to the needle circle, means for thereupon effecting transverse movement of the element to the extent of at least two needles, means adapted to maintain the thread supplying element outwards during the aforesaid transverse movement for the purpose specied, and means for thereafter moving the element inwards to its original position. e

3. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including elements for supplying design threads each to associated needles, the operative portion of each of said elements being capable of lateral deection, means for advancing said elements radially with respect to the needle circle, means for thereupon deecting the said operative portions laterally each to the extent of at least two needles, means adapted to maintain the elements in their advanced positions during such lateral deflection for the purpose specied, and means for 75 thereafter retracting said elements to their original positions to complete a lapping operation.

4. A circular combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including elements for supplying design threads each to associated needles, the operative portionof each of said elements being capable of lateral deflection, means for advancing said elements radially with respect to the needle circle, means for thereuponldeiiecting the said operative portions laterally each to the extent of at least two needles,

5. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including elements for supplying design threads each to associated needles, the operative portion of each of said elements being capable of lateral deiiection, means for advancing said elements radially with respect to the needle circle, means for thereupon defiecting the said operative portions laterally each to the extent of at least two needles, means for thereafter retracting the elements to their original positions, and means for use in guiding the elements during their ad- Vance, maintaining said elements in their advanced positions during lateral deflection of the operative portions thereof and guiding the elements in the course of their retraction, all for the purposes herein specified.

6. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed thereafter effecting reverse radial movement of the element to its original position to complete a lapping action, and means so formed and areral deflection of said operative portion, for the purposes herein specified.

7. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in itting machine comprising, in-

6 the aforesaid butt suchwise as to maintain the thread supplying element outwards during transverse movement thereof for the purpose specifled, and means for thereafter retracting said element to the inside of the needle circle.

8. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including elements for supplying design threads each to associated needles, the operative portion of each of said elements having a butt thereon and being capable of lateral deiiection, means for advancing said elements radially with respect to the needle circle to carry the threadsv across the latter, means for thereupon deflecting the aforesaid operative portions laterally each to the extent of at least two needles, means for thereafter effecting reverse radial movement of the elements, and, in association with each active element, a cam adapted for co-operation with the butt on the operative portion of said element so as not only to afford positive guidance to said portion during radial movement of the element to and from its advanced position, but also to guard against premature withdrawal of said element during lateral deflection of its operative portion, for the purposes herein specified.

9. A circular knitting machine according to claim 7, wherein the cam is positioned between the axially opposed cylinders at a location immediately adjacent to the thread supplying element.

10. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including a circular series of independent thread supplying elements each adapted to serve and supply a design thread to a group of at least two of the needles, the operative portion of each of said elements being capable of deflection laterally to the full extent of the associated group of needles, means for selectively advancing said elements radially with respect to the needle circle to carry the corresponding threads across the latter, means for thereupon defiecting the operative portions of selected elements each to its full extent aforesaid, means for thereafter withdrawing said elements radially to their original positions, and, in association with each active thread supplying element, a cam adapted not only to afford positive guidance to its operative portion during radial movement of the element to and from its advanced position, but also to guard against premature withdrawal of said element during lateral deflection of said operative portion, all for the purposes herein specied.

1l. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including at least one element for supplying a design thread to associated needles, the operative portion of said element having a butt thereon and being capable of deiiection laterally with respect to said needles, means for advancing said element radially with respect to the needle circle to carry its thread across the latter, means for thereupon effecting deection of the element to the extent of at least two needles, means for thereafter causing retraction of said element to its original position, and a cam adapted for co-operation with the aforesaid butt, said cam having an outfront face for contact with the butt at such times as the element is deflected laterally, and two flat opposite side faces which Vare angularly disposed with respect to each other and adapted for contact with the said butt when the element is advanced and retracted respectively.

12. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including a series of independent thread supplying elements each adapted to serve and supply a design thread to a group of at least two of the needles, the operative portion 0f each of said elements being capable of deflection laterally to the full extent of the associated group of needles, means for advancing said elements radially with respect to the needle circle to carry the corersponding threads across the latter, means for thereupon deiiecting the operative portions of desired elements each to the full extent specified, means in association with each active element for preventing radial movement thereof during such deection, means for thereafter withdrawing said elements radially to their original positions, and means for operating the needles selectively so that in any of the aforesaid groups of needles desired needles can be caused to take and knit the thread supplied by the appropriate element while others of said group do not.

13. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including a circular series of independent thread supplying elements each adapted to serve and supply a design thread to a group of at least two of the needles, the operative portion of each of said elements being capable of deflection laterally to the full extent of the associated group of needles, means for selectively advancing said elements radially with respect to the needle circle to carry the corresponding threads across the latter, means for thereupon deflecting the operative portions of selected elements each to its full extent aforesaid, means for thereafter withdrawing'said elements radially to their original posiwardly curved and circumferentially extending tions, the arrangement being such that at least two of the elements are allocated for use interchangeably at each group of needles, a circular series of guard cams one to each of the groups of needles for co-operation with the active thread supplying element at said group to prevent radial movement of said element during lateral deiiection of its operative portion, and means for shogging the series of thread supplying elements bodily in a circumferential direction relatively to the needle cylinders to bring the required elements respectively into co-operative relationship with appropriate guard cams, for the purpose herein specified.

14. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, a circular series of independent thread supplying elementseach adapted to serve and supply a design thread to a group of at least two of the needles, said elements extending in an axial direction with respect to the cylinders and being of blade-like form each with a thread guiding portion which extends atan angle to the blade, means for advancing said elements *radially from their normal position to carry their threads across the needle circle, a deilector arranged adjacent to the thread guiding portions threads across the latter, deflecting means for ereupon effecting lateral movement of said eders against the spring action and each to the extent of at least two needles, cam means for coon with the butts on the feeders to pree latter from radial movement during lateral deflection thereof, and means for thereafter withdrawing the advanced feeders to their original positions, all for the purposes herein so that when the guides are advanced radially as aforesaid the said portions are engaged by the defiector and defiected laterally to the extent of at least two needles, means whereby the guides are thereafter moved back to their original positions thus being brought out of contact with the denector, and, in association with each active thread supplying element, a cam adapted not only to afford positive guidance to its operative portion during radial movement of the element to and from its advanced position, but also to guard against premature withdrawal of said element during lateral deflection of said operative portion, all for the purposes herein specified.

15. A circular knitting machine according to claim 10, wherein there is a circular series of the guide and guard cams, said cams being constituted by projections on a ring-like carrier mounted concentrically with respect to the needle cylinders.

16. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, a verge ring associated with said rib cylinder, a circular series of independent thread supplying elements each adapted to serve and supply a design thread to a group of at least two of the needles, the operative portion of each of said elements being capable of deflection laterally to the full extent of the associated group of needles, means for selectively advancing said elements radially with respect to the needle circle to carry the corresponding threads across the latter, means for thereupon deflecting the operative portions of selected elements each to its full extent aforesaid, means for thereafter withdrawing said elements radially to their original positions, and, in association with each active thread supplying element, a cam adapted not only to afford positive guidance to its operative portion during radial movement of the element to and from its advanced position, but also to guard against premature withdrawal of said element during lateral deflection of said operative portion, all for the purposes herein specified, the said guide and guard cams being constituted by projections on a carrier which is supported by the verge ring.

17. A circular knitting machine according to claim 16, wherein the said carrier is adjustable circumferentially upon the verge ring, for the purpose herein specified.

18. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a plain cylinder, an axially opposed rib cylinder, double-ended needles operable in said cylinders, lap striping mechanism including pivotal wrap feeders for supplying design threads each to associated needles, each feeder having a butt thereon, a stop adjacent to each of said feeders, spring means for normally pressing said feeders against the respective stops,

Vmeans for advancing feeders radially with respect to the needle circle for carrying their 19. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a rotary plain cylinder, an axially needles operable in said cylinders, a verge ring associated with said rib cylinder, a cylindrical carrier arranged concentrically with respect to the needle cylinders, means enabling said cylindrical carrier to be driven in unison with the needle cylinders, independent thread supplying elements in said carrier each adapted to supply a design thread to and serve a group of needles in the plain cylinder, said elements extending in an axial direction with respect to the cylinders and being in the form of blade-like instruments each provided with a pivoted feeder portion and associated spring means whereby said portion is normally pressed against the blade, means for selectively actuating the thread supplying elements suchwise as to project the feeder portions of selected elements radially outwards with respect to the needle circle to carry their threads across the latter from t'he inside to the outside thereof, a defiector so arranged on the outside of the needle circle that when selected feeders are projected as aforesaid they are engaged by the deflector and deflected laterally each to the full extent of the associated group of plain needles, means for moving said needles selectively so that some take the thread supplied by the feeder and others do not, means for thereafter imparting reverse radial movement to the thread supplying elements to withdraw the feeder portions to their original positions, a carrier ring which is supported by the aforesaid verge ring and furnished with a circular series ofl projections constituting cams, one to each group of plain needles for co-operation with an active feeder portion and adapted not only to afford positive guidance to said portion during outward rotary rib cylinder, double-ended supplying elements which are to become active into co-operative relationship with the appropriate guide and guard cams, all substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

HENRY HAROLD HOLMES. 

